Lahore: Four Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) Lahore terrorists who were allegedly involved in the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 were shot dead by Pakistan police in the wee hours of Sunday.

Representational image of Gaddafi stadium. News18

According to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Punjab police, seven terrorists attacked a CID team in Manawan area of Lahore where offices of the department are located.

"The police team which came under attack of terrorists returned the fire, killing four of them on the spot while the remaining three managed to escape by taking advantage of darkness," a CTD spokesman said.

He said the police have launched a search operation in the area to trace the absconding terrorists.

LeJ chief Malik Ishaq, the alleged mastermind of the attack, was killed last year in an encounter with the CID.

In March 2009, a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team was allegedly attacked by the Taliban and LeJ terrorists with sophisticated weapons and grenades at Liberty Chowk, near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Seven players including the then captain Mahela Jayawaredene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana and Chaminda Vaas were injured, while six Pakistani policemen escorting the team were killed in the attack.